The consumption of milk as a standalone drink has been a part of the UK diet for centuries. Cow’s milk provides a range of nutrients, including fat, protein, calcium, riboflavin, iodine, vitamin B12 and choline. However, plant-based milk alternatives (PBMAs) have become increasingly popular in recent years, and are fast becoming an important part of the UK diet. But what are the nutritional considerations when choosing? The latest NDNS data (2019–2023) showed that PBMAs were consumed in smaller quantities than milk, with 14% of women and 10% of men aged 19–64 consuming plant milks, with a mean of 111g and 136g per day, respectively. More recent market insights show plant milks accounting for 6.7% of the total sales volume of animal and plant milks in the year to January 2025.

  1. Quadram (2013) McCance and Widdowson data. Milk, semi-skimmed, pasteurised, average Code: 12-313. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://quadram.ac.uk/UKfoodcomposition/foods/milk-semi-skimmed-pasteurised-average/
  2. USDA (2019) Milk, reduced fat, fluid, 2% milkfat, with added vitamin A and vitamin D https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/746778/nutrients
  3. Asif, N et al. (2026) The rise of plant-based milk alternatives: exploring nutritional, health, and sustainability impacts, Food Chemistry, Volume 34, 2026, 103528, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fochx.2026.103528
  4. Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (2025) Official Statistics National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2019 to 2023. Accessed on 11th June 2026 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-diet-and-n utrition-survey-2019-to-2023
  5. GFI Europe (2025) 2022 to 2024 UK plant-based food retail market insights Meat, seafood, milk and drinks, cheese, yoghurt and cream. Accessed on 22nd June 2026 at: https://gfieurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/UK-plant-based-food-retail-market-insights-2022-2024.pdf
  6. Aldi (2026) Acti Leaf Soya No Sugar. Label. Purchased June 2026
  7. Quadram (2013) McCance and Widdowson data. Milk, soya, non-dairy alternative to milk, unsweetened, fortified. Code: 12-524. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://quadram.ac.uk/UKfoodcomposition/foods/milk-soya-non-dairy-alternative-to-milk-unsweetened-fortified/
  8. USDA (2020) Soy milk. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/746778/nutrients
  9. Alpro (2026) Soya No Sugars. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://www.alpro.com/en-gb/products/drinks/soya-no-sugars
  10. Mighty (2026) Mighty Pea High Protein Milk Alternative Long Life Unsweetened. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://www.ocado.com/products/mighty-pea-high-protein-milk-alternative-long-life-unsweetened/547211011
  11. Oatly (2026) Oatly Oat Drink Whole 1L Chilled. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://www.asda.com/groceries/product/6198507
  12. Koko (2026) Koko Unsweetened Coconut UHT 1L. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/koko-unsweetened-coconut-uht-1l
  13. Almond Breeze (2026) Almond Breeze Long Life Unsweetened Almond Milk Alternative. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://www.ocado.com/products/almond-breeze-long-life-unsweetened-almond-milk-alternative/230375011
  14. Rude Health (2026) Brown Rice Drink Organic (Unsweetened). Accessed 16 June 2026 at: https://rudehealth.com/products/brown-rice-drink
  15. British Nutrition Foundation (2021) Nutrition Requirements. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://www.nutrition.org.uk/media/nmmewdug/nutrition-requirements.pdf
  16. National Institutes for Health – Office of Dietary Supplements (2022) Choline. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Choline-HealthProfessional/
  17. BSACI (2026) Recommendations on plant based drinks for children aged 1 year and over. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://www.bsaci.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Plant-Based-Drink-Statement-FINAL.pdf
  18. Department of Health and Social Care (2026) Guidance. Nutrient profiling model 2018: technical guidance. Published 27 January 2026. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nutrient-profiling-model-2018/nutrient-profiling-model-2018-technical-guidance
  19. SACN (2025) Assessing the health benefits and risks of consuming plant-based drinks. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68765a24cfc3756455bb6a61/plant-based-drinks-health-benefits-and-risks_main-report.pdf
  20. British Dietetic Association (2021) Iodine: The debate around fortification. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/iodine-the-debate-around-fortification.html
  21. EFSA NDA Panel (EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies), 2016. Scientific opinion on Dietary Reference Values for choline. EFSA Journal2016;14(8):4484, 70 pp. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2016.4484 Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2016.4484
  22. National Institutes for Health – Office of Dietary Supplements (2022) Choline. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Choline-HealthProfessional/

About the Author: Aliya Porter, RNutr

Aliya provides one-to-ones, workshops, courses and consultancy through Porter Nutrition and Weaning Centre. She has a special interest in health inequalities and family nutrition. She was awarded Community Nutritionist of the Year 2025 – North West England – SME Business Awards.

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The consumption of milk as a standalone drink has been a part of the UK diet for centuries. Cow’s milk provides a range of nutrients, including fat, protein, calcium, riboflavin, iodine, vitamin B12 and choline. However, plant-based milk alternatives (PBMAs) have become increasingly popular in recent years, and are fast becoming an important part of the UK diet. But what are the nutritional considerations when choosing? The latest NDNS data (2019–2023) showed that PBMAs were consumed in smaller quantities than milk, with 14% of women and 10% of men aged 19–64 consuming plant milks, with a mean of 111g and 136g per day, respectively. More recent market insights show plant milks accounting for 6.7% of the total sales volume of animal and plant milks in the year to January 2025.

  1. Quadram (2013) McCance and Widdowson data. Milk, semi-skimmed, pasteurised, average Code: 12-313. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://quadram.ac.uk/UKfoodcomposition/foods/milk-semi-skimmed-pasteurised-average/
  2. USDA (2019) Milk, reduced fat, fluid, 2% milkfat, with added vitamin A and vitamin D https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/746778/nutrients
  3. Asif, N et al. (2026) The rise of plant-based milk alternatives: exploring nutritional, health, and sustainability impacts, Food Chemistry, Volume 34, 2026, 103528, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fochx.2026.103528
  4. Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (2025) Official Statistics National Diet and Nutrition Survey 2019 to 2023. Accessed on 11th June 2026 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/national-diet-and-n utrition-survey-2019-to-2023
  5. GFI Europe (2025) 2022 to 2024 UK plant-based food retail market insights Meat, seafood, milk and drinks, cheese, yoghurt and cream. Accessed on 22nd June 2026 at: https://gfieurope.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/UK-plant-based-food-retail-market-insights-2022-2024.pdf
  6. Aldi (2026) Acti Leaf Soya No Sugar. Label. Purchased June 2026
  7. Quadram (2013) McCance and Widdowson data. Milk, soya, non-dairy alternative to milk, unsweetened, fortified. Code: 12-524. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://quadram.ac.uk/UKfoodcomposition/foods/milk-soya-non-dairy-alternative-to-milk-unsweetened-fortified/
  8. USDA (2020) Soy milk. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/food-details/746778/nutrients
  9. Alpro (2026) Soya No Sugars. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://www.alpro.com/en-gb/products/drinks/soya-no-sugars
  10. Mighty (2026) Mighty Pea High Protein Milk Alternative Long Life Unsweetened. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://www.ocado.com/products/mighty-pea-high-protein-milk-alternative-long-life-unsweetened/547211011
  11. Oatly (2026) Oatly Oat Drink Whole 1L Chilled. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://www.asda.com/groceries/product/6198507
  12. Koko (2026) Koko Unsweetened Coconut UHT 1L. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/koko-unsweetened-coconut-uht-1l
  13. Almond Breeze (2026) Almond Breeze Long Life Unsweetened Almond Milk Alternative. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://www.ocado.com/products/almond-breeze-long-life-unsweetened-almond-milk-alternative/230375011
  14. Rude Health (2026) Brown Rice Drink Organic (Unsweetened). Accessed 16 June 2026 at: https://rudehealth.com/products/brown-rice-drink
  15. British Nutrition Foundation (2021) Nutrition Requirements. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://www.nutrition.org.uk/media/nmmewdug/nutrition-requirements.pdf
  16. National Institutes for Health – Office of Dietary Supplements (2022) Choline. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Choline-HealthProfessional/
  17. BSACI (2026) Recommendations on plant based drinks for children aged 1 year and over. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://www.bsaci.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Plant-Based-Drink-Statement-FINAL.pdf
  18. Department of Health and Social Care (2026) Guidance. Nutrient profiling model 2018: technical guidance. Published 27 January 2026. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nutrient-profiling-model-2018/nutrient-profiling-model-2018-technical-guidance
  19. SACN (2025) Assessing the health benefits and risks of consuming plant-based drinks. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68765a24cfc3756455bb6a61/plant-based-drinks-health-benefits-and-risks_main-report.pdf
  20. British Dietetic Association (2021) Iodine: The debate around fortification. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/iodine-the-debate-around-fortification.html
  21. EFSA NDA Panel (EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies), 2016. Scientific opinion on Dietary Reference Values for choline. EFSA Journal2016;14(8):4484, 70 pp. doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2016.4484 Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/j.efsa.2016.4484
  22. National Institutes for Health – Office of Dietary Supplements (2022) Choline. Accessed on 16th June 2026 at: https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Choline-HealthProfessional/

About the Author: Aliya Porter, RNutr

Aliya provides one-to-ones, workshops, courses and consultancy through Porter Nutrition and Weaning Centre. She has a special interest in health inequalities and family nutrition. She was awarded Community Nutritionist of the Year 2025 – North West England – SME Business Awards.

Leave A Comment

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